DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Stop whingeing and do your job, Sir John

Displaying extraordinary arrogance, Sir John Chilcot still refuses to say anything publicly to the families of servicemen killed in Iraq, who are seeking a timetable for the publication of his interminable six-year inquiry.

But, behind the scenes, shadowy 'inquiry sources' have been going on the attack on his behalf, risibly claiming that he is the victim of an 'Establishment' smear campaign.

Never mind the fact that nobody is more Establishment than Sir John, a career civil servant who is festooned with honours for 'services to Whitehall'.

It may be uncomfortable for Sir John, but the fact is that he is being lambasted by practically everybody

What is most bizarre is the idea – voiced by those same mysterious 'inquiry sources' – that the Tory Cabinet ministers who have criticised Sir John in recent days wish to lessen the impact of his report, when it finally sees daylight.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Why on earth would they do that when it is the Labour government of Tony Blair that is in the dock?

Indeed the reality is that Sir John and his team are the only ones undermining public trust in its findings, by giving anybody in line for even the mildest censure an unlimited amount of time to challenge every word, under the so-called Maxwellisation process.

It may be uncomfortable for Sir John, but the fact is that he is being lambasted by practically everybody.

Sir John still refuses to say anything publicly to the families of servicemen killed in Iraq, who are seeking a timetable for the publication of his interminable six-year inquiry

Yesterday, Lord Lester became the latest senior legal figure to warn that Sir John is 'completely out of his depth'.

Meanwhile, as we reveal today, Lord Morris – significantly a former Attorney General in the Blair government, who oversaw several major inquiries – says the delays which are being inflicted on the families of the 179 soldiers killed in Iraq are 'deplorable'.

In a devastating intervention, Lord Morris says that it is time for Parliament to take charge of an inquiry which is 'out of control' and fix its own timetable for publication.

If Sir John and his panel wish to avoid this fate, they need to stop truculently stamping their feet over legitimate criticism of their woeful performance – and get on with their job.

Stick to Gove's course

Entries for maths, science and computing GCSEs – subjects vital for this nation's future prosperity – on the rise, for both boys and girls…

The rampant grade inflation which typified the New Labour years brought to an end, with top grades falling for the fourth year in a row…

The attainment gap between girls and boys narrowing as more emphasis is put on exams, rather than coursework…

The positive results from the GCSEs in the country are a direct consequence of Michael Gove's reforms

Michael Gove may no longer be schools secretary, but these positive results are a direct consequence of reforms he made in the face of bitter opposition from militant teaching unions and the education 'blob'.

They are also a reminder of why his successor, Nicky Morgan, must stick to the course he set.

Law unto himself

If he had a shred of decency, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan would resign after being caught using his work phone to swap lewd pictures and text messages with various women.

Yet Mr Gargan – who also abused his position by forwarding on confidential emails – sees no reason to step down.

And, despite wanting him to go now, the force's Police and Crime Commissioner faces a lengthy bureaucratic legal battle to try to force him out of his £150,000-a-year job, from which he has been suspended on full pay for 15 months.

Home Secretary Theresa May has made great strides in reforming the police.

But, by shamelessly behaving like a law unto himself, Mr Gargan has shown there is much work still to do.